More on Sara Palin and Meth Labs in Wasila

Newly minted Republican superstar and vice-presidential nominee, Gov. Sarah Palin, may have successfully fought oil interests and corruption in her home state of Alaska, but in her hometown of Wasilla, where she was elected to two terms as mayor, her iron hand did little to curb growing social problems in the tiny community.

According to published reports, Alaska State Troopers have designated the Matanuska-Susitna area, in which Wasilla is the largest city, as the methamphetamine capital of Alaska. Meth use is apparently exploding in the borough, where production has expanded nearly seven-fold in the last five years.

In 2003, authorities uncovered nine meth labs in the area. By last year, however, that number increased to 42, said Kyle Young, an investigator with the troopers who works with the local narcotics team.

The most innocent victims of the Alaska’s meth epidemic appear to be the region’s children. Officials with the Office of Children’s Services in Wasilla said their office receives about 40 calls a month from people reporting abuse or neglect related to the use of the highly addictive drug.

Meanwhile, reports of children living in meth labs and in otherwise dangerous proximity to the drug and addicts help explain why such a huge percentage (nearly 50%) of Wasilla’s total monthly child protection calls are meth-related.

With less than 10,000 residents, Wasilla is but 12.4 square miles of the 24,000 square mile area that makes up the Matanuska-Susitna borough.

(The only time I ever heard the name “Matanuska” was a name given to some AMAZING pot I had in the 70’s called “Matanuska Thunderfuck”. Anyone remember that?Sure takes me back… Needless to say, I don’t think the drug problem in Wasilla is a new thing…RL)